Muslim Association of Greece – accomplishments and photos for 2009
March 31, 2010
We put this together to capture all the key steps we took forward in 2009 toward our mission for Muslims in Greek society that might be missed by your eyes otherwise.
The Muslim Association of Greece annual report highlights its accomplishments throughout the year through photos and descriptions. Click on the photo below to download the annual report.
Amreeka movie now online for free
March 29, 2010
A while back, I wrote about a movie called Amreeka that recently came out. Now you can watch it online for free. Click on the photo below:
A feel-good comedy about a Palestinian mother who moves to rural Illinois with her teenaged son, Amreeka is a kind of stealth political film that confronts issues of ethnic tension and American xenophobia.
Ship to Gaza – Ένα Καράβι για τη Γάζα
March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 24 at 9′oclock
at the Badminton theatre
featuring Orchestra Mikis Theodorakis, Ross Daly and many others
Visit www.shiptogaza.gr for more information.
Τετάρτη 24 Μαρτίου ώρα 9
στο θέατρο Badminton
με την ορχήστρα Μίκη Θεοδωράκη, Ross Daly και πολλούς άλλους
Επισκεφτείτε τη σελίδα www.shiptogaza.gr για περισσότερες πληροφορίες.
From their website:
We demand
The lifting of the land, air and sea siege of Gaza by Israel and the free navigation in the Mediterranean Sea.
The dismantling of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The end of Israeli occupation of Palestine.
We support
The right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupying Israeli forces until the achievement of their national independence.
The right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
We are against
Any form of foreign military intervention and occupation in any region of the World
We are faithful
To the long standing and strong Greek-Palestinian fraternity
We are determined
To sail again to Gaza, carrying with us the Message of Friendship and Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Από την ιστοσελίδα τους:
Υποστηρίζουμε
-Το δικαίωμα του Παλαιστινιακού λαού να ζήσει λεύτερος στην ιστορική του πατρίδα.
-Το δικαίωμα του Παλαιστινιακού λαού στην αντίσταση με κάθε μέσο, για να απελευθερώσει την πατρίδα του από την κατοχή και να κατακτήσει την εθνική του ανεξαρτησία.
-Το δικαίωμα όλων των Παλαιστινίων προσφύγων να επιστρέψουν στις εστίες τους και στη γη τους.
Απαιτούμε
-Να φύγουν οι κατακτητές απ’ όλα τα Παλαιστινιακά εδάφη.
-Να αποχωρήσουν οι έποικοι και να διαλυθούν όλοι οι Ισραηλινοί εποικισμοί στη Δυτική Οχθη.
-Να αρθεί ο αποκλεισμός της Λωρίδας της Γάζας από στεριά, αέρα και θάλασσα.
-Να επιστρέψουν στη γη τους οι Παλαιστίνιοι πρόσφυγες
-Να απελευθερωθούν οι περισσότεροι από 11.000 Παλαιστίνιοι πολιτικοί κρατούμενοι.
Kuwaiti European convention – photo gallery included
March 19, 2010
European Muslims, including the Greek team representing the Muslim Association of Greece, participated in a significant grand convention in Kuwait from February 27 to March 11, 2010 organized by the Islam Presentation Committee at the Kuwait Regency Hotel to educate Muslim converts and give them ways they can benefit their communities and societies they live in.
Famous speakers from several countries and from Kuwait as well came to give us their expertise each one at his field. During the two weeks, Europeans from several countries (UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Greece) had the opportunity to study but also be in contact with the Kuwaiti society and its structure through many enriching activities and field trips.
We visited universities, youth centers, discussion centers, school activities centers, centers for education of the foreigners of Kuwait and we realized the great emphasis that was on education and that explains the spiritual growth of their society.
We had the honor to meet people that we normally study their books and DVDs, people that normally would be impossible to meet all together, but this happened thanks to the fine organizing.
The famous Tareq Suwaidan was with us and gave a magnificent lecture. The director of Bridges Foundation and member of International Union of Muslim Scholars, Fadel Soliman, came for a very significant two-day course.
Sheikh Sultan Bilam, a famous lecturer from Bahrain, Dr. Musa Al Jowaiser from Kuwait, en expert on Psychology, Amal Abdulwahid from Kuwait, the coordinator of the entire project presented also a important course, Ahmed Al Mutawa lecturer from Kuwait, Sheikh Mohammed Daniel who also lives in Kuwait, Ebrahim Adsani general manager of the intercultural “Aware Center”, the accomplished lawyer Athari Al Abdaly, analyzing legal matters and in the end Faisal Al Zamil, chairman of IPC that organized the convention.
We visited magnificent mosques, warm houses with big families and the desert with the farms full of plants and animals. Actually, Dr. Jassem Al Mutawa, sheikh, author of tens of books and director of Iqraa satellite channel, gave us an inspirational tour at his impressive biological farm.
We saw the traditional markets and the modern malls –same as in our countries – but above all we saw the warm hearts and the hospitality of every person, and you cannot compare this to any riches or luxuries.
The president of the Kuwait parliament was the one who honored us at the closing by presenting us our certificates.
The organizers wanted to give to the participants a real taste of the way of life in Kuwait along with the high quality education and they accomplished that. Everyone left with the best impressions looking forward to the next convention.
More media coverage:
Surprise inside: we are now live!
March 16, 2010
Έναρξη νέας ιστοσελίδας!
Σας καλωσορίζουμε στο Όρα Ισλάμ, την πρώτη επίσημη πηγή αξιόπιστης πληροφόρησης για τo Ισλάμ, στα ελληνικά!
Το Όρα Ισλάμ είναι το εκπαιδευτικό παράρτημα της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδος.
Θα θέλαμε να ευχαριστήσουμε όλους όσους εργάστηκαν σκληρά, για την υλοποίηση αυτού του project και όλους όσους θα συνεχίσουν να εργάζονται με γνώμονα την αλήθεια, για την υποστήριξη και ανάπτυξη αυτής της ιστοσελίδας.
New website launch!
Welcome to Ora Islam, the first official and reliable source of information about Islam, in the Greek language.
Ora Islam is the official department of education of the Muslim Association of Greece.
We would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly for the accomplishment of this project and all those who will continue to work, with truth in mind, for the support and development of this website.
إطلاق الموقع الجديد!
اهلا في اورا الإسلام ، المصدر الاول الموثوق للمعلومات عن الإسلام ، باللغة اليونانية.
اورا الإسلام هو الذراع التعليمي للاسلام من رابطة المسلمين في اليونان.
نود أن نشكر جميع الذين عملوا بلا كلل من أجل إنجاز هذا المشروع و الى جميع الذين سوف يتابعوا العمل معنا ، من أجل دعم وتطوير هذا الموقع.
The right to dress – does it suit your eye?
March 12, 2010
The ban on the niqab violates my human rights.
People talk about rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how important they are for all of us, or at least for some.
So… you can ask me a simple question, fair enough that is right we all have the right to express, dress and behave the way we like or aspire. But where do we get inspired from?
Every year in the UK there is a festival called Infest. Alternative electronic music fans get together once a year for couple of days to celebrate their music choice. The first time I saw them I thought they were freaks, but no they were normal everyday people dressed the way they wanted to express their own choice. In many cases they were executives in major international corporations. I used to have a friend – she was punk. People were staring at her while she was walking but she couldn’t care less. It was her choice and no one could ever judge her for that. It was her right and nobody banned it.
Society is built on a base of differences, but who defines the differences we have and the acceptance we get from our fellow man?
A few years ago I used to dress with miniskirts and ’sexy’ tops. Sometimes I got looks of admiration, sometimes looks of disgust and many more looks were judgmental. By dressing ’sexy’, and sexy can be defined in many different ways, you are perceived as easy or with low morals.
Now I have chosen to dress modest and to wear a scarf. It is my choice, but yet again I’m perceived to be oppressed.
Why? Simply because of the way I dress. So what defines how I can dress?
Clothes are a way of expressing ourselves, how we feel and what we believe. How we would like people to deal with us. Our clothes are the first impression we give to people and the boundaries we set between us and them. For me, simply, it’s a right. But why then does society or politicians have to choose for me and forbid me to express myself in the way Ι find most appropriate for me?
Wearing hijab, niqab or abaya (a dress) is a choice of a woman – not oppression. Oppression is when you forbid a woman to wear what she feels like just because it doesn’t suit your eye. So where is my human right…?
photo credit: Sylvain Labeste
Greek Defence Minister Venizelos to the Muslim community: behold the mosque and cemetery
March 8, 2010
Source: inews.gr
© Translation Muslim Association of Greece
The way has opened for the construction of the mosque in Votanikos and the creation of a Muslim cemetery in Shisto, after a meeting held between the Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis and the Minister of National Defense Evangelos Venizelos. The problem is that the “path” will pass – if it does – through the middle of the Naval Base, cutting it essentially in two and having already caused “frustration” in the Navy, as beyond the procedural issues, the cost is also high. The Navy, of course, cannot do anything enough though they are annoyed, as it has already been agreed by Mr. Venizelos and Mr. Kaklamanis.
The two sides have also come to an agreement regarding the creation of a green park, area of 500acres, in Goudi. The Minister of National Defence has given instructions for the actions needed, as we mentioned above, the land for the construction of the mosque belongs to the Navy and the launch of solutions for both issues. If this happens then a major problem concerning the Muslim community in Athens will be solved.
We remind that discussions had taken place in 2006 as well as a year ago. Then the matter of direct implementation of governmental commitments to build mosque in Athens and a Muslim cemetery in Shisto was brought back by the Muslim Association of Greece.
The President of the Association, Naim Elghandour, had sent letters to the relevant Ministers of Interior and Education Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Aris Spiliotopoulos, requesting the immediate breakout of procedures required.
According to the information then, the president of the Association had stated that due to the obstruction of the Greek state, Muslims find the opportunity to create informal places of worship “with the difference that they do not have as central reference the harmonious coexistence of people and the good of Greece, but promote their own aspirations for their own benefit.”
For the records Mr. Naim Elghandour, the man who played a major role in the Quran story is Egyptian in origin. He lives in Greece for the past 35 years and is naturalized as Greek citizen. As he stated in an interview, “The Muslim Association of Greece is the largest Muslim union in Greece. Our members are Greek nationals, immigrants and refugees coming mainly from Arab countries. We also represent the majority of informal places of worship in Athens. In Athens today live hundreds of thousands of Muslims, from various professions and social statuses, while thousands of children study in Greek schools and universities.”
The Muslim Association states that today in Greece live roughly 1.000.000 Muslims – that is to say, 10% of the Greek population. It is therefore understandable how important it is to resolve these issues. Particularly, regarding the creation of the first Muslim cemetery, according to information available, that particular land belongs to the Navy but is used by the Army. The municipality requested, the land to be transferred so that the first Muslim cemetery can be created as well as the installations for the combustion of dead; however they examine as an alternative the third cemetery.
Regarding the botanical area, today there operates the Central Marine Car Station, a 20 year old building. If, therefore, the area was freed, the Navy and the Ministry of National Defence have requested the payment of the relocation costs, which makes it almost unaffordable. Regarding Goudi Park, the municipality has asked the Ministry to grant them 500 acres – from the 4500 total in this particular area – so, in cooperation with the Municipality of Zografou, the creation of a single green space. According to the municipality of Athens, that will create a green belt with bicycle paths, and the execution place of Nikos Belogiannis will be designated.
Translated by: Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi
My fashion and my hijab: Greek Muslimahs interviewed
March 5, 2010
Source: Veto newspaper
© Translation Muslim Association of Greece
It is not only one piece of cloth. The veil that envelopes the faces and the bodies of Muslims, is a symbol of Islam, so charged as the military conflicts that have broken out in the name of the hijab in many European countries. Lately, especially after the ban on headscarves in public places in France, there are more women who started wearing it. The global game industry is aware of this and few months ago, Barbie wore a scarf as well. Religious, political, revolutionary, feminist symbol? Muslim women living in Athens reveal what lies behind their hijab, as they call it.
Rabab
The hand of the photographer is on top of the table, with the coffees, tightened by Nashua hand, “I’m wearing gloves. It’s the only way I can touch another man.” Her daughter Rabab is smiling, holding her cup of coffee, smiling and with apologetic. “Sorry I’m not allowed,” as she declines the handshake. On her right shoulder is her baby sleeping. On her left shoulder her hijab falls until her waist. In fact they are to scarves, one pink and one black, both, elaborately braided together-the result is reminiscent braided hair. She was born in Greece, lives in Keratsini and every day, she wears her hijab in different style- which she has copied from a satellite hair channel. She has visited her home country, Egypt, only few times. She has heard though that there are many ‘hijab hair salons.’
Rabab has been wearing the hijab for the past 10 years. She wanted to take it off on her wedding day but her husband didn’t agree. Despite the meaning of her name ‘white cloud’, in her life there are many black clouds. At the age of 26, she must choose between her hijab or her career. “I was working in a telecommunications company. One day, my manager called me into his office and offered me the supervisor’s position. Under one condition: to take off my hijab. I couldn’t take the job wearing hijab. ‘At least wear a wig,’ he told me. So I had to resign.”
In her workplace today – she is an immigration consultant for Athens council- she wears her hijab without having any problems. “I can feel people’s eyes on me when I go to places or use public transportation. Most of them are staring. A few days ago, I was getting off the bus, when an elderly man hit me with his walking stick, so I would hurry. With his walking stick! Is that possible? I was born here. And I am not taking my hijab off. It is a respect to me and my religion.”
Nashua
Nashua never put pressure on her daughter to wear hijab. “She did it on her own, when she became a little lady.” It came to my mind the little girls with hijabs who were playing under their brothers’ eye, just outside the Libyan school on Kifisias boulevard.
“They are ignorant of Islam when they wear hijabs to kids in primary school,” Says Mrs. Anna Stamou, Marketing and Public Relations of the Muslim community. “A Muslim woman is wearing the hijab so she doesn’t attract attention, the paradox here is that this way she does. If we go out with a mini skirt nobody would look at us. Nakedness doesn’t evoke.” says her mother Nasoua, she has been living in Greece for the past 35 years. She assures me that under her impressive red hijab, which is fastened with a golden broch, has her hair groomed.
As she continues, “I go very often to the hairdresser. At home we don’t wear hijab. You never give up on yourself. I put facial creams and dye my hair, so my husband likes me, but above all so I please myself.”
Habiba
Habiba means ‘loved one.’ Habiba was the favourite student of her teachers in Paris. She arrived there from Morocco, to study fashion design. “Paris then was more hijab friendly,” she says, analyses the family tree of Sarkozi, concluding that he has roots in Marolo Jews from his grandparents. Because of her profession- she is a fashion designer in Athens and Paris-“I do not see any particular problem. I have contact with people who have an open mind and get on easily with scarf. Sometimes women say to me, ‘Come now, you are so progressive, you have to be free.’ But I am free. The scarf is my choice. It was never imposed on me. Not even from my husband.” And there is no doubt about that. Anas Habibas husband completes ”I have overcome some crashes. He grew up in Greece, he is from Argentina, but adopted by Greek parents before becoming a Muslim on his own initiative, he was baptised Christian and was called Anastasis. ”When I was little, I was the alter [boy] in church,” he says, laughing.
On his hand is tattooed an alfa capital. “Yes I am an anarchist,” he answers just when he realized that I was looking at it, he listens to rock music, smokes and is a big fan of Jimi Hendrix. ”Jimbo, come here,” he shouts from the living room in the middle of the house and to our surprise, emerging as a tornado, holding a large cat, is his three-year old daughter, wearing a black ribbon on her hair. ”Look my little Rocker,” boasts Anas. “Last year she asked to wear the hijab on her own. She sees her mother and she wanted too,” he says and tells us the story of young Holy, which was adopted from Morocco. Holy, grows up in a home with strong Arab elements, bright colours and smells of Moroccan tea and has her little prayer rug in the mosque built by her dad, in the basement of their house. Answering a question on when their daughter will wear hijab, they started laughing. ”She is such a character that she might never put it on!” says Habiba. ”Everybody does what they like. Many try to hide behind a scarf, to show that they are good people. Like Christians who go to church and start prostrating, looking around to see who is watching them. “I don’t blame hijab. It is just a fabric,” Habiba continues,”a fabric that frightens and unfortunately has baptized terrorism and Al Qaeda. We are Hijab Frappe. It means that the scarf goes everywhere.”
Habiba doesn’t drink frappe, “because it bothers me but I go to the movies, theatre, and I enjoy art as a hobby. I like little taverns.” She is also an amateur actress. After Easter, she will star for a second year on the show “Hijab Frappe”, based on true stories of women. She opens the script book and starts reading: “The hijab is a symbol, no it’s not a symbol, it is responsibility. It is my faith, what I am, what I am not. It is mandatory, it’s optional, it is the law but not here. I wear the hijab for me, for God, for my husband. It is freedom, protection, mystery.”
Marina
Her parents reaction when they heard she will become Muslim “brought trouble at first, but [they] realized that the path was purely my choice and was not influenced and accustomed. What they cannot get used to is the hijab. They are all hesitant with the scarf. The fundamentals of Islam lie beneath. There are Muslim women who do not wear hijab. The substance is not the picture,” says Marina, a Greek who embraced Islam three years ago. Her husband, who she met later, is Palestinian and they have a little boy. ”I became a Muslim from pure curiosity. Reading, I began to realize that Islam covered gaps that could not be covered by my previous religion. Half a year later, I wore the scarf, as required by the Quran. Nobody pushed me; nobody forced me,” says 26 year old girl who studied economics in Aristotle University. ”Since I wore the scarf my friends remain the same because they know me. On the street, they think I am a foreigner. Nobody imagines that I am Greek and only if they hear my accent they suspect it and start asking questions.”
Despina Papadopoulou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Policy Panteion University
“The headscarf issue is complicated and complex, so we must be careful. As the government attempts to limit religious freedom, the more resistance will be present. If we can express an opinion towards the prohibition of the headscarf or not, a safe criterion is the separation of public and private life. It must not affect the public order of society. And the state should not interfere with private life. Any form of religion must exist, in case of course, it doesn’t affected the person. On the other hand there is a military conflict: Who governs the existence of the hijab? The State or the family? This conflict leads nowhere. Especially if the government draws its legitimacy from religion. If actions are taken for the ban of the headscarf, it will hardly be implemented. The restriction is a simple solution to an issue as so critical.”
The trend is derived from feminist movements, in which any symbol of discrimination and equality in society is racist in nature. In Europe and America, it appears as Islamophobia.
—
Translated by Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi
40 Europeans in Kuwait to get to know Islam
March 1, 2010
Representatives of our Greek team from Greeks Rethink and the Muslim Association of Greece were able to attend this conference. More updates to come later insha Allah.
© Translation: Muslim Association of Greece
Source: islammemo
The Kuwait-European new Muslims meeting started on Saturday evening (28-2-2010) in Kuwait which will continue until March 12, with the participation of 40 European who newly announced their conversion to Islam, so they can learn more about the Islamic religion through a series of lectures by a number of preachers.
Jamal Al Nouri, the official for the Islam Presentation Committee, said the Committee aims to qualify those newly European Muslims to be advocates of Islam in their home countries and convey the message of Islam among non-Muslims.
He explained that the Committee relies on them a lot and is keen to establish forums and meetings and lectures for them, referring that this meeting/forum has involvement of the lecturers and scientists from within Kuwait and from outside Kuwait.
Misconceptions
Amal Abed-Alwahed, the forum coordinator, said that the forum is a big meeting to discuss ways to communicate with each other and to remove the misconceptions about Islam.
She emphasized that the Committee since it was established in the seventies of the last century set a vision of a clear methodology to strive to achieve this vision and by the grace of God Almighty they made remarkable achievements.
She noted that the Committee was able to make Kuwait in the ranks of a dawah/preaching country as they are keen to communicate with each other and not to impact with, in addition to careful to show the truth and the tolerant image of Islam among non-Muslims.
Translated by Fadi Hasweh
